Valsugana
Encyclopedia
The Sugana Valley is one of the most important valleys in the autonomous province of Trentino in Northern Italy
. Leading into the Alps
' foothills, an important main north-south Roman
road, the Via Claudia Augusta
, one of Europe's main roads since its construction in Antiquity
, winds along the valley and connects the Adriatic with the historic Holy Roman Empire
and Frankish kingdom's
centre of Augsburg
.
The sturdy construction of this long-distance road running through the valley has made it historically one of the most important north-south European transit lanes because the route from the Veneto
region to points near and beyond the famed Brenner pass
is significantly shorter than proceeding Venice
to Verona
to Brenner
. Henry II
used the road to bypass a position blocked by a rival allowing him to gain the throne of the Holy Roman Empire
.
The Valle dei Mocheni is also of historic interest as it has remained a German-speaking enclave in modern
Italy to this day. This came about as during the High Middle Ages
while the region was ruled by the Holy Roman Empire (many Emperors were also Kings of Italy) many German-speaking farmers and miners settled into the region.
The western part of the valley nearest Trento
is an extensive tourist area which began as a health spa during the late 19th century when the Levico Terme
baths were established and became popular with the upper classes. This parallels the history of what became modern vacations
and resort
towns in much of the world (Contrast with St Moritz, Mineral Wells
, and Steamboat Springs
), the situation in the valley being enhanced perhaps by the easy access both north and south given it by the sturdy Roman road, when roads were usually just dirt tracks with deep ruts and large puddles.
See. Otherwise the scenery is marked by vineyards and orchards and groves of edible horse-chestnuts.
Nearby Lake Caldonazzo, and the village of Caldonazzo
, is a further international tourist center located just south of the Dolomite Mountains, a southern foothill range
of the higher Alps
just to the North.
Together, Caldonazzo Lake and the Dolomites create one of the most beautiful regions of northern Italy and harbor a host of outdoor sporting activities, such as climbing, hiking, mountain biking, power boating, sailing, and windsurfing to name just a few.
lies in a wide glacial valley, where the Fersina and Avisio
rivers join the Adige
(the second longest river in Italy). The valley is surrounded by mountains, including the Vigolana (2,150 m), the Monte Bondone (2,181 m), the Paganella
(2,124 m), the Marzola (1,747 m) and the Monte Calisio (1,096 m). Nearby lakes include the Lake Caldonazzo, Lake Levico, Lake Garda
and Lake Toblino. Valsugana just south of the Dolomite Mountains,
Northern Italy
Northern Italy is a wide cultural, historical and geographical definition, without any administrative usage, used to indicate the northern part of the Italian state, also referred as Settentrione or Alta Italia...
. Leading into the Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
' foothills, an important main north-south Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
road, the Via Claudia Augusta
Via Claudia Augusta
The Via Claudia Augusta is an ancient Roman road, which linked the valley of the Po River with Rhaetia across the Alps. Since 2007, the Giontech Archeological Site, in Mezzocorona/Kronmetz serves as the Via Claudia Augusta International Research Center, directed by Prof...
, one of Europe's main roads since its construction in Antiquity
Classical antiquity
Classical antiquity is a broad term for a long period of cultural history centered on the Mediterranean Sea, comprising the interlocking civilizations of ancient Greece and ancient Rome, collectively known as the Greco-Roman world...
, winds along the valley and connects the Adriatic with the historic Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
and Frankish kingdom's
Franks
The Franks were a confederation of Germanic tribes first attested in the third century AD as living north and east of the Lower Rhine River. From the third to fifth centuries some Franks raided Roman territory while other Franks joined the Roman troops in Gaul. Only the Salian Franks formed a...
centre of Augsburg
Augsburg
Augsburg is a city in the south-west of Bavaria, Germany. It is a university town and home of the Regierungsbezirk Schwaben and the Bezirk Schwaben. Augsburg is an urban district and home to the institutions of the Landkreis Augsburg. It is, as of 2008, the third-largest city in Bavaria with a...
.
The sturdy construction of this long-distance road running through the valley has made it historically one of the most important north-south European transit lanes because the route from the Veneto
Veneto
Veneto is one of the 20 regions of Italy. Its population is about 5 million, ranking 5th in Italy.Veneto had been for more than a millennium an independent state, the Republic of Venice, until it was eventually annexed by Italy in 1866 after brief Austrian and French rule...
region to points near and beyond the famed Brenner pass
Brenner Pass
- Roadways :The motorway E45 leading from Innsbruck via Bolzano to Verona and Modena uses this pass, and is one of the most important north-south connections in Europe...
is significantly shorter than proceeding Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
to Verona
Verona
Verona ; German Bern, Dietrichsbern or Welschbern) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy, with approx. 265,000 inhabitants and one of the seven chef-lieus of the region. It is the second largest city municipality in the region and the third of North-Eastern Italy. The metropolitan area of Verona...
to Brenner
Brenner
Brenner might refer to:* The Brenner Pass, one of the major passes through the Alps, linking Italy and Austria* Brenner, a municipality in South Tyrol* Brenner Base Tunnel railway tunnel through the base of the Brenner massif.* Brenner...
. Henry II
Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry II , also referred to as Saint Henry, Obl.S.B., was the fifth and last Holy Roman Emperor of the Ottonian dynasty, from his coronation in Rome in 1014 until his death a decade later. He was crowned King of the Germans in 1002 and King of Italy in 1004...
used the road to bypass a position blocked by a rival allowing him to gain the throne of the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
.
The Valle dei Mocheni is also of historic interest as it has remained a German-speaking enclave in modern
Modern Times
Modern Times can refer to modern history.It may also refer to:* Modern Times , a 1936 Charlie Chaplin film* Modern Times , a 1975 album by Al Stewart...
Italy to this day. This came about as during the High Middle Ages
High Middle Ages
The High Middle Ages was the period of European history around the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries . The High Middle Ages were preceded by the Early Middle Ages and followed by the Late Middle Ages, which by convention end around 1500....
while the region was ruled by the Holy Roman Empire (many Emperors were also Kings of Italy) many German-speaking farmers and miners settled into the region.
The western part of the valley nearest Trento
Trento
Trento is an Italian city located in the Adige River valley in Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. It is the capital of Trentino...
is an extensive tourist area which began as a health spa during the late 19th century when the Levico Terme
Levico Terme
Levico Terme is a comune in Trentino in the northern Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, located about 15 km southeast of Trento...
baths were established and became popular with the upper classes. This parallels the history of what became modern vacations
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
and resort
Resort
A resort is a place used for relaxation or recreation, attracting visitors for holidays or vacations. Resorts are places, towns or sometimes commercial establishment operated by a single company....
towns in much of the world (Contrast with St Moritz, Mineral Wells
Mineral Wells
Mineral Wells can refer to:*Mineral Wells, Texas*Mineral Wells, West Virginia...
, and Steamboat Springs
Steamboat Springs
Steamboat Springs may refer to:*Steamboat Springs, Colorado, a town in Routt County, Colorado, United States*Steamboat Springs, Nevada, a collection of geysers located in northern Nevada, United States...
), the situation in the valley being enhanced perhaps by the easy access both north and south given it by the sturdy Roman road, when roads were usually just dirt tracks with deep ruts and large puddles.
See. Otherwise the scenery is marked by vineyards and orchards and groves of edible horse-chestnuts.
Nearby Lake Caldonazzo, and the village of Caldonazzo
Caldonazzo
Caldonazzo is a comune in Valsugana, in Trentino, northern Italy.The nearby Lake of Caldonazzo is the source of the Brenta River....
, is a further international tourist center located just south of the Dolomite Mountains, a southern foothill range
Mountain range
A mountain range is a single, large mass consisting of a succession of mountains or narrowly spaced mountain ridges, with or without peaks, closely related in position, direction, formation, and age; a component part of a mountain system or of a mountain chain...
of the higher Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
just to the North.
Together, Caldonazzo Lake and the Dolomites create one of the most beautiful regions of northern Italy and harbor a host of outdoor sporting activities, such as climbing, hiking, mountain biking, power boating, sailing, and windsurfing to name just a few.
Geography
The provincial capital is the town of TrentoTrento
Trento is an Italian city located in the Adige River valley in Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. It is the capital of Trentino...
lies in a wide glacial valley, where the Fersina and Avisio
Avisio River
The Avisio is a 89,4 km Italian stream , a left tributary of the Adige, whose course is in Trentino.It rises from Marmolada and runs through the Fascia Valley, the Fiemme Valley and the Cembra Valley before joining the Adige in the town of Lavis, a small town 8km northern of Trento....
rivers join the Adige
Adige
The Adige is a river with its source in the Alpine province of South Tyrol near the Italian border with Austria and Switzerland. At in length, it is the second longest river in Italy, after the River Po with ....
(the second longest river in Italy). The valley is surrounded by mountains, including the Vigolana (2,150 m), the Monte Bondone (2,181 m), the Paganella
Paganella
Paganella is a mountain in Trentino, in northern Italy, in the territories of the comuni of Fai della Paganella, Andalo, Molveno, Zambana and Terlago...
(2,124 m), the Marzola (1,747 m) and the Monte Calisio (1,096 m). Nearby lakes include the Lake Caldonazzo, Lake Levico, Lake Garda
Lake Garda
Lake Garda is the largest lake in Italy. It is located in Northern Italy, about half-way between Brescia and Verona, and between Venice and Milan. Glaciers formed this alpine region at the end of the last ice age...
and Lake Toblino. Valsugana just south of the Dolomite Mountains,